Pedal clavier for musical instruments



Feb. 28, 1950 L. HAMMOND ET AL PEDAL CLAVIER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSFiled Feb. 2'7, 1948 vlhi'l'illl Patented Feb. 28, 1950 PEDAL CLAVIERFOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Laurens Hammond, Chicago, and George H.Stephens, Glencoe, 111., assignors to Hammond Instrument Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 2'7, 1948,Serial No. 11,455

8 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to pedal claviers for musicalinstruments and more particularly to claviers adapted to be mountedpartially within the console of the instrument.

It is an object of our invention, to provide an improved pedal clavierfor musical instruments, particularly those having pedals operatingswitches to control the sounding of the tones, in which the pedals aremounted for pivotal movement and in which the pivotal mounting is suchas to prevent damage to the pedals or parts perated thereby even thoughthe pedals are subjected to unusual stresses, as may occur, for example,when the player stands upon them.

The further object is to provide an improved pedal clavier for musicalinstruments which is of rugged construction and thus will be verydurable, and which may be economically manufactured. Other objects willappear from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the console of a musicalinstrument showing the improved pedal clavier associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of a portion of the pedalclavier assembly; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 2.

The invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as forming part of the console ofa musical instrument, such as a piano or organ, having a keyboard H] ofconventional construction and having a fallboard 12. The lower edge ofthe fallboard I2 is provided with an elongated notch or recess l4through which natural pedals l6 and sharp pedals 18 project. Each of thenatural pedals 16, comprises an elongated sheet metal channel 20 toWhich is secured a foot contact piece 22. Each of the sharp pedals 18comprises a channel 24, similar to the channels 20, but of shorterlength, and is provided with an elevated foot contact piece 26.

The pedals project through the recess l4 in the fallboard l2 and theinner ends thereof are partially enclosed by the side 21 of the piano ororgan case, a top 28, and a back 29, these parts being suitably mortisedand rigidly secured together.

A supporting frame comprises a pair of sheet metal channels 32 (only oneof which is shown), the rearward ends of which are bolted to the back 29and the forward ends of which are secured to the topboard 28 by aU-shaped channel 30, which has inwardly turned flanges 48 and 49 securedto the top 28 by screws 34 and hasthe central lower portion secured tothe channels 32 by screws 36. The transverse sheet metal channel 30supports a plurality of inverted channels 38 which are in alinement withand embrace alternate pedal channels 20, 24. The downwardly extendingside walls of the channels 38 are provided with pairs of alignedopenings 40, 4|. The upper edges of these openings 40, 4| are slightlyrounded to serve as rocking fulcrums for transverse bearing bars 42secured by screws 43 to the pedal channels 20. Similar transversebearing bars 44 are secured by screws 45 to the sharp pedal channels 24.Screws 43 and 45 also secure spring anchor brackets 46 to theirrespective pedal channels 2|], 24. Tension springs 41 each have one endhooked to one of the brackets 46 and have their upper ends hooked intothe inwardly turned flanges 48 and 49. The springs 41 extend throughsuitably located holes 52 in the bottom of channel 30 registering withsimilar holes in the channels 38. The key channels 20, 24 have circularfelt pads 50 riveted to the sides thereof for spacing and guiding them,these pads engaging the inner and the outer surfaces of the verticalwalls of channels 38.

The rearward ends of the pedal channels 20 and 24 are also provided withcircular felt pads 50 riveted to the side walls of the channels andcontacting the vertical side walls of generally U-shaped brackets 54which are secured by rivets 56 to a transverse supporting angle 58, thelatter being secured by bolts 60 to the frame channels 32. A shoulderedbolt or stud 62 projects through a suitable opening formed in thehorizontal portion of each of the pedal channels 20, 24 and serve asretaining supports for a felt strip 64 and annular felt washers 65 whichact as cushioning stops to limit upward and downward motion respectivelyof the rearward end portions of the pedal channels 28, 24. A pluralityof microswitches 66 are secured to the vertically extending leg of theangle 58, each of these switches having a leaf spring actuator 68 whichis adapted to be engaged by a push pin 10 suitably secured to theassociated pedal channel 20, 24.

In normal use of the pedal clavier, upon depression of any one of thepedals I 6, its spring 41 maintains the crossbar 42 in contact with therounded upper edges of the openings 4| in the channel 38. The pedal thusrocks on these rounded surfaces as a pivot, the push pin 10 engaging theactuator 68 to operate the switch 66. The parts are so proportioned thatthe switch 66 will be operated prior to the time that the-rearward end.portion of the pedal channel 20 engages the up-stop felt strip 64. Ifthe player rests his foot very heavily upon the pedal It, the rearwardend of the channel 20 will be prevented from further upward movement bythe up-stop felt strip 64 and the spring 46 will therefore be stretchedfurther, "theopening 4'! permitting the crossbar 42 to movedownwardlyawayafromthe rounded edge pivot surface a sufficient distancethat the forward end portion of the pedal channel .20 will engage thefloor, indicated bythe ground line 12. In a similar manner, thesharp'zpedals l8 are arranged to operate their respective switches 66,and if excessive pressure israpplied to these pedals their crossbars Mmay :similarly move downwardly in the "openings -48 until the loweredges of the pedal channels 24 are arrested by the floor.

Thus it will be clear that even though the player stands upon the pedalsthe push pins "I will not move upwardl a distance further thantheyxarermove'd during normaloperationlof the pedals-and the switches:Bdwillnot be damaged. Instead, the .pedalchannels zfl, 24 will bepressed downwardly againstithe "floor without subjecting themtoexcessivestressesas would vbethe case if the pedals were mountedo-niflxed pivots and were-provided with rigid limit stops. If the pedalclavier were constructed in the latter manner, the .pedal channels 29,24and the supports and stops therefor would have to be made much'strongerend-heavier with consequent-increase in over- .:all weight. and costofithe pedal clavier. Further- "more, the additional weightcof: thepedals would inherently slow up the operation, especially theirreturnimovement, unless stronger return springs were provided. Makingthe springs il stronger -wouldrnak itmore difficult and tiring tozplaythe instrument.

It'will benoted that'in the construction disclosed herein, the springsil', although relatively heavy, are mountedvery closeto the pivotal axis:of the pedals sothat they do not offer "a substantial torque resistantto the depression of the pedals. .Thus, thepedals, being. relativelylight in weight and subjected to a relatively small resilient returnforce, may be'tapped lightly with the toe to'operate' the-switches fit,and will, upon release of further pressure, return rapidly -to normal*position, while nevertheless the pedals may be subjected tothe fullweight of a player standing uponone or more ofthem without danger ofdamaging the pedal channels'or an of the supports r'ot-her partsassociated therewith.

'Whilewe-have shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent to'those skilled inthe art'that numerousmodifications and variations may be made in the form and constructionthereof without departing from the more fundamental principles of theinvention. We therefore desire, by the following .claims, to includewithin the scope of our invention all,. such.-simi1ar and modified formsof the .apparatus disclosed, by whichsubstantially the results of theinventionlmay beobtainedby substantially thesame or equivalent means.

We claim:

;1. In a pedal clavierefor. musical instruments, V the: combination of.a plurality. of relatively light weight'pedals, reach of the pedalshaving a ful- ;crum;engaging part, fixedfulcrums positioned for.;engagement.by. said parts, said fulcrums present- .iin gdownwardlyprojecting bearingsurfacesfixed .sstop, means; limitingmovement of the. rearward ifilldSZQf the pedals; and: yieldableresilientmeans holding said parts upwardly against the fulcrum I bearingsurfaces and applying to the pedals a torque in a direction to move theforward ends of the pedals upwardly, said resilient means yielding topermit the fulcrum engaging parts to move downwardly-away from the;-fulcrum bearing surfaces when excessive downwardly directed forces areapplied to the forward ends of the pedals, whereb the latter may movedownwardly and be arrested by the floor above which the pedal clavier:is located.

vholdingsaid parts upwardly against the fulcrum bearing surface andapplying to the pedals :a

torque in a direction-to move the forward ends of the pedals upwardly,said resilientmeansapplying theltorque. close to the fulcrumsand-applying sufficient forces to thepedals to permitthe fulcrum engaginparts .to move downwardly away from the fulcrumrbearingfsurface onlywhen excessive downwardly directed forces are applied to the forwardends of the pedals, whereby the pedals may move. downwardly and-bearrested by the floor. above whichthe pedal clavier is located when suchexcessiveforces are applied thereto.

3. In a pedal .clavier formusical instruments,

"the combination ,of a pluralityof pedals, each comprising an'invertedchannel and each having .a fulcrum engaging part intermediate itsends,

fixed fulcrumspositioned for engagementby said parts, said fulcrumspresenting downwardly projecting convexbearing-surfaces, fixedstopzneans limiting movement :of the rearward ends of the pedals, andrelatively powerful yieldable resilient means holding said parts'upwardlyagainst the fulcrum bearing surfaces and applying to the pedalsatorquein a-direction to move the forward ends .of the pedals upwardly,said torque being applied tothe pedals ata point closely adjacent totheir fulcrums, said resilient means yielding to permit the fulcrumengaging-parts to move downwardly awayfrom the fulcrum bearing surfaceswhen excessive downwardly directed forces are applied to the'forwardendsof the pedals, whereby the latter may move downwardly and be arrested bythe floor above which the pedal clavier is located.

4. In a-pedal clavier for musical instruments, the combination of aplurality of generally horizontal pedals positioned near the bottomofthe instrument .console a short distance above the floor, each of the,pedals having a fulcrumengaging part, .fixed fulcrums presentingdownwardly facing bearing surfaces positioned for engagementbyssaidparts, fixed-stop means limiting upward :movement of :therearwardends of the pedals, and springs holdingsaid parts upmove theforward ends of the pedals upwardly,

:each of the springs applyingthe torque close to the fulcrum .andapplying apsufiiciently large upwardly directedcjforce' to the pedal topermit .the

. fulcrum engaging part tomove downwardly away from the. fulcrum..bearingasurface only vwhen an excessively large :idownwardly .directed.force zapplied toitheiforward-end;:of 1the;pe1dal, whereby the pedalmay move downwardly and be arrested by the floor above which the pedalclavier is located when such excessive force is applied thereto.

5. In a pedal clavier for musical instruments, the combination of asupporting frame including a plurality of inverted channels havingopenings on the side walls thereof, said openings providing downwardlyconvex fulcrum edges, a plurality of pedals each having a foot contactsurface at the forward end thereof, a pivot element secured to each ofthe pedals intermediate the ends thereof, the element having its endsextending through said openings, resilient means normally holding theends of the pivot element against the fulcrum edges of the channelopenings and yieldable to permit the ends of the pivot elements to movedownwardly a substantial distance away from the fulcrum edges, and stopmeans to limit the extent of movement of the rearward ends of thepedals.

6. In a pedal clavier for musical instruments, the combination of asupporting frame including a plurality of pedal guides having verticalwalls with openings therein, said openings providing downwardly facingfulcrums, a plurality of pedal-s each having a foot contact surface atthe forward end thereof, a pivot element secured to each of the pedalsintermediate the ends thereof, the element having its ends extendingthrough said openings, resilient means normally holding the ends of thepivot element against the fulcrums and yieldable to permit the ends ofthe pivot elements to move downwardly a substantial distance away fromthe fulcrum edges, and stop means to limit the extent of movement of therearward ends of the pedals.

7. In a pedal clavier for musical instruments, the combination of asupporting frame including a plurality of downwardly facing fulcrums, aplurality of pedals each having a foot contact surface at the forwardend thereof, a pivot part on each of the pedals intermediate the endsthereof, a spring normally holding the pivot part of each pedal upwardlyagainst its fulcrum, said spring being yieldable to permit the pivotpart to move downwardly a substantial distance away from the fulcrum,stop means to limit the extent of movement of the rearward ends of thepedals, and switches respectivel operated by the pedals.

8. In a pedal clavier for musical instruments in which the clavier isplaced close to the floor comprising, a plurality of pedals, each pedalhaving a forward end for engagement by the foot of the player, a stop tolimit upward movement of the rearward end of the pedal, a downwardlyfacing fulcrum, yieldable resilient means to hold an intermediate partof the pedal upwardly against the fulcrum, and a musical tonecontrolling element operated by the pedal upon pivotal movement thereofas the result of stepping upon its forward end.

LAURENS HAMMOND.

GEORGE H. STEPHENS.

No references cited.

